Gnome Game - Game Jam Game
Made: December 2016
Tools Used: Unity2D, Visual Studios (C#), Photoshop
I was placed as lead level designer for a 36 hour game jam where the jam’s topic was Gnomes. My group decided to go with an overly happy Gnome game that ended in a gruesomely dark twist. I worked closely with the artists and programmers to create a funny, yet challenging platforming experience.
I made each level offer different tones and environments. The first level was in a yard setting with rainbows and colorful visuals. Players were challenged with simple platforms, evading guard dogs, and other hazards to make it through the yard and climb into the house window.
Once inside, I decided to make everyday house hold items into platforms for the player to traverse on. Ranging from cabinets, magnets, ice dispensers, picture frames and so on. A different environment meant for a different atmosphere. I replaced wandering dogs with triggered-activated cats, made further challenging platform puzzles by introducing spot lights that sent the player back to latest checkpoint upon being seen, and other trigger based hazards for the player to avoid.
My level design introduced dark humor throughout the game, slowly exposing the player to humorous things that showed that this is not an average kid’s game. Jokes such as portraits of Kim Jung Un and notes indicating marital problems. I also made the vent system players progressed through to reach the final room slowly reveal fire arms and other means of violence. This really emphasized the dark twist ending in a humorous and unexpected way.
Tools Used: Unity2D, Visual Studios (C#), Photoshop
I was placed as lead level designer for a 36 hour game jam where the jam’s topic was Gnomes. My group decided to go with an overly happy Gnome game that ended in a gruesomely dark twist. I worked closely with the artists and programmers to create a funny, yet challenging platforming experience.
I made each level offer different tones and environments. The first level was in a yard setting with rainbows and colorful visuals. Players were challenged with simple platforms, evading guard dogs, and other hazards to make it through the yard and climb into the house window.
Once inside, I decided to make everyday house hold items into platforms for the player to traverse on. Ranging from cabinets, magnets, ice dispensers, picture frames and so on. A different environment meant for a different atmosphere. I replaced wandering dogs with triggered-activated cats, made further challenging platform puzzles by introducing spot lights that sent the player back to latest checkpoint upon being seen, and other trigger based hazards for the player to avoid.
My level design introduced dark humor throughout the game, slowly exposing the player to humorous things that showed that this is not an average kid’s game. Jokes such as portraits of Kim Jung Un and notes indicating marital problems. I also made the vent system players progressed through to reach the final room slowly reveal fire arms and other means of violence. This really emphasized the dark twist ending in a humorous and unexpected way.